New Jersey Judge Rules that Poker is Not Illegal

Earlier this week, a New Jersey judge, Jack B. Weinstein, ruled in favor of a man that was accused of running a gambling business. The New Jersey Judge threw out Lawrence DiCristina’s conviction and vacated the indictment.

The Judge said, “Poker is more a game of skill than a game of chance, so game operators should not be prosecuted under the federal law that prohibits running an illegal gambling business.”

In a comprehensive one hundred and twenty page ruling paper, the Judge incorporated details about the history of poker playing in the United States. Part of his decision included the point that skillful professionals in this industry earn the same exorbitant salaries as professional sportsplayers.

As part of his decision, the judge ruled that under the United States’ Illegal Gambling Businesses Act, poker should be considered a game of skill rather than illegal gaming.

The accused defendant, Lawrence DiCristina, was arrested in 2011 for operating a high-stakes poker room in the spare room of a warehouse where he also sold bikes.

Included in the 120-page document, Judge Weinstein also went on to write that the gaming laws in place were originally intended to control organized crime. He felt that this case did not present any evidence of that, therefore could not be persecuted under the law.

As a motion against DiCristina’s poker games, the Judge said that his poker room was in violation of New York State gaming laws, which could mean that the New York City District Attorney’s office could take on the case and prosecute DiCristina.